Mémoire d’Afrique — Ref. 185
Baoulé maternity woman — Baoulé, Côte d’Ivoire — African tribal art — Ref. 185
Description
This statue represents a seated woman breastfeeding a child, a classic scene in Baoulé art symbolising motherhood, fertility and protection. The detailed sculptural features include traditional scarifications on the face and body, signs of her high spiritual or social status. The finely worked hairstyle and harmonious proportions are typical of Baoulé aesthetics.
The woman wears a belt around her waist, often associated with spiritual meanings or femininity in Baoulé culture. The arms and legs are adorned with bracelets and geometric motifs, reinforcing the idea of prestige and elegance. The child she is nursing is carefully carved, evoking the transmission of life and continuity.
The seated posture, on a stylised stool, underlines her ceremonial or commemorative role, perhaps as the representation of a protective spirit or ancestor. The dark patina, obtained through years of ritual use, confirms notable age and use in important spiritual or social contexts.
Technical details
- Type of piece
- Statue
- Category
- Statues
- Ethnic group
- Baoulé
- Country
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Materials
- wood
- Dimensions
- H 74 × W 18 × D 20 cm
- Weight
- 5,4 kg
- Estimated dating
- second half 20th c.
- Laboratory test
- Not tested
- Reference
- 185